Hydrangea plant named ‘H220908’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘H220908’, characterized by its upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely branching habit with strong, thick and sturdy stems; freely and uniformly flowering habit; large mophead-type inflorescences with numerous yellow green and purplish red-colored sterile flowers; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘H220908’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Hydrangea Breeders Association B.V. of De Kwakel, The Netherlands on Jan. 4, 2021, application number 2021/0005. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla, commercially referred to as a mophead-type Hydrangea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘H220908’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands and Glandorf, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to create new strong and freely-branching Hydrangea plants with strong sturdy stems, uniform flowering habit, large inflorescences with numerous showy sterile flowers, attractive sterile flower color and good postproduction longevity.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor during the spring of 2012 in De Kwakel, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 208156-028, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Horwack’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,577, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Glandorf, Germany in February, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled environment in Glandorf, Germany since the spring of 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘H220908’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘H220908’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Upright and uniformly mounded plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   3. Freely branching habit with strong, thick and sturdy stems.     -   4. Freely and uniformly flowering habit.     -   5. Large mophead-type inflorescences with numerous yellow green         and purplish red-colored sterile flowers.     -   6. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in sterile flower color as sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea are yellow green and purplish red in color whereas sterile flowers of plants of the female parent selection are purplish red in color.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to the male parent, ‘Horwack’. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Horwack’ in growth habit as plants of the new Hydrangea are more vigorous than plants of ‘Horwack’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangea macrophylla ‘H218913’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,241. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘H218913’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more freely branching than         plants of ‘H218913’.     -   2. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea have rounded         sepals with entire margins whereas sterile flowers of plants of         ‘H218913’ have deltoid-shaped sepals with serrate to serrulate         margins.     -   3. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea are yellow         green and purplish red in color whereas sterile flowers of         ‘H218913’ are yellow green and light red purple in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘H220908’.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘H220908’.

The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3) is a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘H220908’ that has been “blued”, that is, treated with aluminum sulfate.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the late spring and early summer in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 17° C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were one year old when the photographs and description were taken. Plants of the new Hydrangea can be successfully treated with aluminum sulfate to “blue” the inflorescences. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘H220908’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea             macrophylla identified as code number 208156-028, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Horwack’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,577. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at             temperatures about 23° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 18 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Thick; typically whitish brown in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and uniformly mounded plant             habit; strong and sturdy stems; rapid growth rate and             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 25 cm to 30 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 45 cm to 50 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; when pinched, about             14 lateral branches develop per plant.         -   Length.—About 20 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 3 cm to 5 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; fully developed, woody.         -   Aspect.—Upright to about 20° from vertical.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Color.—When developing: Close to 146C; at internodes, close             to 187A; lenticels, close to 187A. Developed: Close to 146C;             at the internodes, close to 187A; when woody, close to 177D;             lenticels, close to 187A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 9 cm to 12 cm.         -   Width.—About 6 cm to 9 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate to cuspidate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Dentate to serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Rugose, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to NN137B; venation, close to 146C. Developing and             fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B;             venation, close to 146D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: Close to 145B. Color, lower surface: Close to             145C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy sterile flowers and small             inconspicuous fertile flowers arranged on mophead-type             terminal panicles; panicles globular in shape; fertile and             sterile flowers face upright to outwardly depending on their             position in the inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower naturally in the             early summer and is continuous throughout the summer in             Northern Europe.         -   Flower longevity.—Fertile flowers last about one month on             the plant, fertile flowers not persistent; sterile flowers             last about four months on the plant, sterile flowers             persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 30             fertile flowers per panicle and about 100 sterile flowers             per panicle.         -   Panicle height.—About 8 cm to 10 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 18 cm to 25 cm.         -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 73C.         -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 73B.         -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 5 mm.         -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 1 cm.         -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a             single whorl. Length: About 3.5 mm. Width: About 2 mm.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 69A. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 63B; color does not change             with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 63D;             color does not change with development.         -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a             single whorl. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:             Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 63B. Fully             opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 63B; color does             not change with development.         -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a             single whorl. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:             Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When             opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 141B. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 141B; color does not change             with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             146B; color does not change with development.         -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a             single whorl. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 2 cm to             2.5 cm. Shape: Rounded. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture,             lower surface: Rugose, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 144C becoming closer to 63A with             development. When opening, lower surface: Close to 144D.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 144A becoming closer             to 63A with development; when “blued”, close to 145A             becoming closer to N87A with development. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 145C becoming closer to 73B with             development.         -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Mostly             upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 63D.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 3 cm to 4 cm.             Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to             about 45° from vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Close to 63B.         -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: Eight. Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color:             Close to 75C. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape:             Conical. Anther color: Close to 75B. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: Close to NN155D. Pistils: Pistil             quantity per flower: Three. Pistil length: About 1 mm.             Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: Close to 186C and 75B.             Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 75C. Ovary             color: Close to 75C.         -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About eight. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament             color: Close to 75C. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther             shape: Conical. Anther color: Close to 75B. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: Close to NN155D. Pistils: Pistil             quantity per flower: Three. Pistil length: About 1 mm.             Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: Close to 75B. Style             length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 75B. Ovary color:             Close to 75C.         -   Seeds, only produced by fertile flowers.—Quantity per             fertile flower: About 20 to 30. Length: About 0.5 mm.             Diameter: About 0.1 mm. Color: Close to 200C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Under commercial production conditions,     plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be resistant     to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants to date. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 3° C. to about 38°     C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘H220908’ as illustrated and described. 